Hear Ye, Hear Ye

I am officially moving this blog to Eternity In My Heart.

There are going to be lots of changes coming soon! While it isn't exactly as I want it yet, I decided to go ahead and launch it now because I don't want to post to both sites. Hope to see you over there!

Love and Not Sacrifice

"For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings." 

Hosea 6:6

I've been pondering my love for God recently. This verse is a reminder that God wants my love - He wants a relationship with me. It's not that He doesn't want me to make sacrifices for Him. After all, I am to take up my cross daily and follow Him. (As an aside, this dying to self business is pretty difficult. Has anyone noticed this besides me?) Still, He doesn't want what I can do for Him. He wants ME.  Sort of like when Jesus told Martha that Mary had chosen the better way when she sat at His feet instead of doing household chores. As I keep finding reminders of this, I am deeply comforted and deeply contented. Things are not happy-go-lucky in my life right now. They aren't horrible, but they could be better, you know? That is always true in everyone's life. Still, I am incandescently happy right now because I am fully aware of God's great love for me, and I am determined to love Him back, fiercely and forever.

The world keeps turning...

Via

I'm only here for the food...

One of the most fun things about doing the Whole30 was trying a bunch of new foods and discovering some new recipes that will take up permanent residence in my culinary repertoire. Because the Whole30 focuses on nourishing food, it's important to have plenty of variety. This isn't an inexpensive endeavor, but the saying "you get what you pay for" applies to the food we consume as much as anything.

I went out on a limb and used some gift cards from Christmas to purchase the cookbooks Well Fed and Well Fed 2 by Melissa Joulwan. I do not regret it! A lot of recipes from these cookbooks can be found on Melissa's blog The Clothes Make the Girl, but not all of them! I do recommend both cookbooks. You can also find lots of paleo recipes and ideas on the internet, of course. Below are some of my favorite culinary discoveries from the Whole30. Note that this is not an exhaustive list!

Homemade Mayo
For almost two years I owned an immersion blender but I never took it out of its box. Finally, around the holidays I used it to make cream of asparagus soup. That was when I realized that my immersion blender is my second favorite kitchen tool (the first being my Kitchenaid mixer). After the first time that I made this mayo, the hubs and I decided we'd never go back. It is by far the yummiest mayo you've ever tasted, and it is the base for all kinds of dressings and dips. If you are even the slightest bit interested, try this recipe! You won't regret it.

Pureed Soups
Before I made the cream of asparagus soup over the holidays, I had never made a pureed soup. I am a convert now. Silky Gingered Zucchini Soup is probably my new favorite way to eat zucchini. I can't wait for extra zucchini in the garden this summer. Sweet Potato Soup with Bacon was a surprise to all of us - It is beyond delicious. I also made a lot of Golden Cauliflower Soup. If you have a baby in your house, these soups are a bonus because they make excellent baby food. Little Brother and I eat one of these soups for lunch every day, and even though I'm finished with the Whole30, I will continue this. We both enjoy them, and it makes getting all your veggies so much easier.

Most of the time, I drink my zucchini soup from a mug. 

Chocolate Chili
Whether or not you're interested in the Whole30, GO MAKE THIS CHILI. It is SO good. I've made the same recipe for our chili (and we've always loved it) ever since I got married, but now this is my go-to chili recipe. I've made it at least half a dozen times in the last three months. Yes, it is that good.

Coconut Milk Creamer
I couldn't put any creamer in my coffee on the Whole30, so I started out drinking it black. That was fine and dandy until we got a new kind of coffee and it was a super dark roast (we tend to try lots of different kinds of coffee around here just for the fun of it). On a whim, I decided to put some coconut milk in my coffee and I discovered a newfound love! I *just* might like coconut milk better than creamer!

Sunrise Scramble
Probably my greatest success (as far as making things that The Hubs liked!) in the Whole30 was the Sunrise Scramble in Well Fed 2. This recipe is not online (so you would have to purchase the cookbook to find it), but The Hubs loved it so much that I have made it at least once a week since January (sometimes more frequently). It's a skillet egg scramble with a diced apple, sweet potato, and sausage (or ground beef). I will probably continue to make this for a weekend breakfast for the rest of our lives. It's easy and delicious, and packed with nutrition.

Random Things
You can't have legumes on the Whole30, so that means no peanut butter. I don't consume a lot of peanut butter anyway, but I bought some Sunbutter so I could make Pad Thai and I fell in love. I also never knew it before this, but I really enjoy cabbage. I thought that I hated it, because I didn't care for it growing up. However, if you shred it and sauté it in some coconut oil it is better than cake. No joke. Also, I've been eating a lot of scrambled eggs for breakfasts, and there are tons of ways to make them special… just try mixing in chives, or cilantro, or even ground mustard! The possibilities are endless. If it weren't for the Whole30, I also would never have tried spaghetti squash or butternut squash, and they are nothing less than a treat if cooked correctly!

This is just a small sampling of some of the paleo food I consumed during my Whole30. These are foods that were completely new to us, but have become regular parts of our diet now. It was worth it to do the Whole30 just because of this!

Life Means So Much

Teach us to count the days
Teach us to make the days count
Lead us in better ways
Somehow our souls forgot
Life means so much

- Chris Rice, Life Means So Much

It All Started When...

You should read It Starts With Food by Doug and Melissa Hartwig. Yes, you. I read it for several reasons, not the least of which is that Modern Mrs. Darcy recommended it. I'm not sure where I first heard about the Whole30, but I know it was sometime in 2013. I was intrigued by its use to pinpoint pesky health issues. By no means do I think that all health issues are food-related, but I do think that more are diet related than we realize.

My sister and I have had a conversation about food numerous times. We have acknowledged that we both have a weakness for emotional eating. You know what I mean - where I might try to soothe myself after a stressful day by buying a pint of ice cream and eating it in one sitting (or just finishing the half gallon that is already in the freezer). There is nothing inherently wrong with ice cream, but there IS a problem when stress or any other emotion is the catalyst for eating ANY kind of food (even if it is just chewing ice)!

This is why I was drawn to It Starts With Food. Their whole eating plan boils down to selecting foods that promote a healthy psychological response, promote a healthy hormonal response, support a healthy gut and support healthy immune function. They then share their reasoning behind limiting (or, more accurately, eliminating) certain foods. It is interesting to note that "stress eating" or any kind of "emotional eating" does not promote a healthy psychological response!

I doubt I will ever agree 100% with any book or author, so I can't say that I agree with all of what the Hartwigs have to say. Much of their "research" appears to be unsubstantiated (and is in direct conflict with the "research" touted by other experts). They actually admit this in the book - they encourage their audience to try their advice for themselves to evaluate its validity. However, I am currently on day 30 of my first Whole30, and I CAN say that I learned a few things about myself and my eating habits that were eye-opening to say the least! Watch for more blog posts on that coming soon! And if you think a Whole30 might be helpful for you, I'm open to any questions about the process. I feel that this book is worth reading and the Whole30 is a worthwhile endeavor.

Pangs of Death

My Bible study on the life of Christ is wrapping up just in time for Easter and this week has been bountiful with the blessings of scripture. I was saved at the age of six and grew up hearing the story of the cross and resurrection continually. Every Easter is a precious time for me, but this year, this Holy Week has been an exceptional blessing. (Praise be to God!) This verse is a gem from this morning. I hope it encourages someone else as much as it did me to think that it was NOT POSSIBLE for death to hold Jesus Christ! Amen!

P.S. I loved this so much that I'm adding it to My Sword for this year! Verse 7.1!

My Delight (verse eight)

Sometimes, I will randomly come across a verse that simply jumps off the page to me - the language is particularly beautiful, or it is JUST the word that I needed at that moment, or it simply reminds me of who I am in Christ. I try to write these down on my list of "verses to memorize" so I can come back to them later. So it was with today's verse. The day I found it, I needed to be reminded that I should delight to do my Father's will, just as my Savior delighted to do His Father's will.

"I delight to do you will, O my God; your law is within my heart."
Psalm 40:8

Whole30

Guess what? I'm on day 10 of a Whole30. I've been meaning to blog about this. It hasn't happened yet, but I have been taking notes AND plan to share what I've learned very soon. In case you didn't click the link and don't know what a Whole30 is - basically, I'm going 30 days without grains, dairy or sugar.

It's been interesting, to say the least! More later!

Patience and Careful Instruction (Verse Seven)

My mother-in-law birthed eight boys. One time, she was talking with a young mom who had just found out that her third baby was going to be a third boy. "Did you pray for patience?" My mother-in-law quipped. "Don't pray for patience - God will send you sons!"

Of course, that was in jest, but the fact remains that being a mom does give plenty of opportunities to develop patience, among some other fine character qualities. It is what each mom does with those opportunities that really counts. That is something I think of often since becoming a mom because of a book I read when I was pregnant with Big Brother. A dear lady gave me a book called Sacred Parenting by Gary Thomas. His basic premise is that parenting can be used by God as (and is meant to be) part of our sanctification process. Looking at all those sleepless nights, frustrating incidences, endless messes, endless inconveniences as part of my sanctification - as part of dying to self and growing more Christ-like - has radically changed my attitude on more than one occasion.

Still, I struggle to "speak the truth in love" just like the next person. I'm in a constant stream of "teachable moments" right now and it can feel overwhelming. (Let's be honest. Parenting is tough.) I'm taking this verse to heart in regards to my journey as a mom. I had chosen a different verse entirely, but this morning God brought 2 Timothy 4:2 to my attention and I needed this today. I don't think my need for this reminder will be going anywhere anytime soon, so here is my verse seven:

Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage - with great patience and careful instruction. 

II Timothy 4:2

Motherhood

Ask!

My steps won't slip (verse six)

For years now, I have made exercise a priority in my life. Most days of the week, I ensure that I'm participating in some kind of physical activity. It used to be about how I looked, but now it is far more important to me because of how exercise makes me feel. I'm more energetic and have a more positive outlook when I am getting regular exercise. I feel pretty strongly that it also helps me stay healthier.

During an ice storm this winter, I took a potentially injurious fall. No, let's be honest, here. I had a major wipeout. I ran outside to the garage to tell the Hubs that dinner was ready. I didn't realize the walkway was slick and before I knew it, my feet were in the air. I landed on my shoulder/elbow and upper back, and hit my head pretty hard as well. I lay there for a minute, as I wasn't immediately sure that I wasn't injured. Hearing the thump of my landing, the Hubs came out of the garage and found me flat on my back in the ice and snow. We ascertained that I had no breaks (reference?!) and he helped me up. I was sore for days and had a terrible headache the next day. And the bruise…! I couldn't help but think that I would have been much more likely to be injured if my body wasn't used to physical exertion - aka, if I wasn't "in pretty good shape."(Side note: I sort of wish there had been a camera set up so I could see the video of this epic wipeout. I'm fairly certain I could have won America's Funniest Home Videos.)

Metaphorically, we won't slip when we hide God's word in our hearts. I would go to great lengths to ensure that I never take a fall like that on the ice ever again. It may also take great lengths to be sure I don't fall spiritually, either. Memorizing scripture makes my spirit stronger, just as exercising on a regular basis makes my body stronger. It is my hope that through scripture memory, I am protecting myself from slippery steps.

Laughter and Sleep

Via

Minimal

What I'm pondering…

Buy less, choose well.

-Vivienne Westwood

How will I love Jesus today? - Verse Five

My mornings start at 5:30am.

This is what my early morning looks like.

For a long time, I would get up at 5:30 only M-F but recently I've begun getting up early on the weekends, too. This is not for everyone, but for me, this is the time of day that is quiet. The time of day when I can think and be alone. It is beyond worth it to me to have this time of peace to get up early. (It's not like the boys let me sleep past 7 anyway!)

I'm currently participating in a Beth Moore Bible study called Jesus, The One and Only. I haven't done a Beth Moore study I haven't liked, although I've liked some better than others (Esther and the Patriarchs are my favorites, in case you're wondering). This particular study hasn't really grabbed me like some of them do - at least, not until this week. Week Four, Day Four, to be precise. The title of the day's homework is "Loving Much." It covers the story from Luke 7:36-50 about the woman with the alabaster jar of perfume. If you don't know the story, I urge you to stop reading this blog post and go read it right now.

The page out of my homework

Anyway, all of this ties into My Sword 2014 because as I completed the homework assignment, I asked myself this question, "How am I going to love on Jesus today?" I realized that I need to ask myself this question every day. How am I showing my love for my savior on a daily basis? There are many answers to this question and I will not belabor the point any longer, except to say that it was a powerful reminder to me.

Because of my Bible study homework this week, I've selected John 14:21 as My Sword verse five.

Lions

Via

Not Scarred For Life

This is a post that I've had whirling in my head for a long time. I need to hear this reminder frequently. Some other mom out there needs to hear it, too.

I was hospitalized before Little Brother was born due to pregnancy complications. After Little Brother was born, he was in the NICU for ten weeks. I spent all day every day at the hospital with him. It was almost as if I was hospitalized, too. There are a lot of musings from that time period about which I will write in the future. That story has to be told bit by bit by bit, the way it was experienced.

Today, though, as a friend is facing a similar trial, heavy on my heart is the part of the story that affected Big Brother. You see, he was not quite three years old and suddenly his life plunged into chaos. During that time, my heart broke to be apart from him. His third birthday came and went without much ado. Thanksgiving and Christmas and New Year's came and went… and his mommy was absent. He missed me. He wanted me to "snuggle" him on the couch. He would hold my hand to his cheek when he saw me, and close his eyes as if being near me was complete bliss.

I told some people how I felt about it, and everyone would say, "Well, at least he won't remember it!" I tried to comfort myself somehow with that thought - he was small enough that he wouldn't remember it. He wouldn't have to carry that burden his whole life. Isn't this what we do? We worry about how we are "scarring our children for life" with the things that we say and do or don't say and don't do. There is always guilt associated with every facet of motherhood… guilt associated with both sides of every single decision. 

God gave me a verse to which I clung in desperation throughout Little Brother's hospitalization and the months that followed his homecoming:

I fought fear every day. It was an excruciating, exhausting battle, but I reminded myself that He loved my boys so much more than I love them. I had to surrender them to Him time and time again.

I still clung to the hope that Big Brother wouldn't be scarred for life by my absence when Little Brother was born and hospitalized. Then, one day, just a few short months ago, I heard Big Brother say to Little Brother, "You were in the hospital for a LONG TIME. But don't worry. You don't have to go back there EVER AGAIN."

Tears stung my eyes, and my heart sunk with the realization that he had not forgotten. For a short time, I was tortured by this. I wondered how it was going to affect him in the future; I worried that he was "scarred for life."

Then something clicked in my head. I don't know if it was the Holy Spirit whispering to my heart or what, but these words came to me: Yes, he remembers. He remembers and he is okay. Quite simply, it was part of his journey, just like the things that have hurt me in my life were part of my journey. I realized that just as there is no part of my life, no hurt, no circumstance, that is beyond the redemption of Christ - that same truth applies to the hurts in the lives of my loved ones! He can redeem my mistakes as a mother and use them for good. Of course, it will be up to my boys, but it will be their choice. They do not have to be scarred for life.

Submission

From the Bible study "Jesus the One and Only"

What Curly Hair Has Taught Me

I was born with curly hair.

A lot of people would say curly hair is a blessing, but for a long time it felt like a curse to me. I struggled with insecurity anyway, and it didn't help that my hair was often a frizzy mess.  I have had all of the clichéd exchanges you can imagine, from old women telling me that they would pay money to have my curls to a young woman telling me she would “cut off both her arms to have crazy curly hair” like me. Ah, thanks. I think.
 

Photo Credit

Through the years, I've finally come to terms with my curly hair, and learned a few life lessons along the way.

Go with the flow.
No matter what I do with my hair, it does its own thing. Thankfully, when I was sixteen I learned the cardinal curly hair rule: DO NOT BRUSH YOUR HAIR. This has made a world of difference, but my hair is still wild. After years of fighting the curl, I've come to realize that I can either fight and be disgusted with its wildness or I can take care of my hair and accept that it is not going to be perfect. Ever. This is something my dad calls "being flexible." He likes to remind those around him, "Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape." I can do my best to make good decisions in life, but I am not in control, so I have to roll with the punches. Just like curly hair isn't perfect, neither is life.

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There is no comparison.
I'm ecstatic to be teaching Sunday School again, and yesterday's lesson was on not comparing yourself to others. WHAT?! I'm teaching the very lesson that my own heart needs to hear. So what if my friends' hairs seem to fall smoothly just the way they want them? My hair was created to be curly. In the same way, my life is not going to go as smoothly as the lives of others appear to be going. (Note that I didn't say "as smoothly as the lives of others" because most of the time, the lives that I think are going smoothly are really just as rippled as mine!)

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Take responsibility and let it go.
My mom didn't have curly hair, so she taught me to brush my hair the way she brushed hers. It wasn't until I was a teenager that I finally took responsibility for learning how to take care of MY hair - and figuring out that what works for some people doesn't work for me! How often do we try to emulate others to the detriment of our sanity? I have to remind myself to do what works for me - to take responsibility for myself - and not worry about the rest. After all, if I'm making the best decision possible with the resources available to me, I can have no regrets.

Sometimes, I use a straightening iron and make my curls smooth and straight. It doesn't last, though. Underneath, I'm still a curly-haired girl, and I always will be. And I'm fine with that.

What about you? What have you learned from your unchangeable physical characteristics?

Verse Four

I read Psalm 71 this week and found several jewels - or tools for my arsenal, if you will! I selected this one because of its pertinence to where I am right now. Sometimes, the cares of life weigh down my spirit and this verse reminds me to choose hope continually, and to praise Him more each day. What is your new verse for My Sword 2014?

Love Letter

I love you.

It is because of Me that you are.

My love for you is greater than comprehension.

I give all good things to you.

I forgive every time you offend Me.

No matter what you do, how you fail, how you disappoint or anger Me,

I will go on loving you.

My death gives you the chance to love Me.

There is no greater love than My love for you.

In honor of Valentine's Day, I thought I'd post this little love letter. I wrote it eleven years ago for a Valentine's Day writing competition at my college. I can't remember if the competition was to write the best love letter or the best Valentine's Day poem, but whatever it was, I won. (The prize was a stuffed animal of my choice from the campus store! Ha!) I'm sure I won because I focused on the Greatest Love Story instead of all the mushy-gushy stuff, NOT because the writing was stellar. I know some people call Valentine's Day "Singleness Awareness Day." I'm posting this as a reminder that you are loved with the deepest love, no matter your relationship status! 

Determined

I made this card and thought it made a fitting "happy Thursday" post! Forgive the homemade-ness of the card and photography! I'm no photographer… all my blog pics are from my phone since I don't have a "real" camera.

Endurance

On Feeling Alone

This post is me keepin' it real.

Throughout my life, when heartbreak has occurred, I have felt alone. When I was in college, I wrote a poem about this (the poem was probably no good, and it has not survived the years, but I remember writing it and I remember my poetry classmates critiquing it). Every time I hurt, I struggle with feeling as if I am the only person on the planet - and maybe in all of history - who has felt this way. These feelings of isolation are a hurt in and of themselves, and exacerbate the other pain exponentially if I allow them to do so.

I have come to the realization that these feelings of isolation are something that has to be fought. I feel alone. Am I really? I feel as if I am the only one to ever suffer this pain. Am I really? So often, my heart doesn't follow the logic of my head. That is not to say that my feelings are not valid. On the contrary, my feelings are important pieces of the puzzle. Our perception of reality isn't necessarily true, but it does influence our reactions.

In the end, though, truth will win. We see this played out time after time in history and in our own lives.  If I claim to believe the truth; if I claim to be a Christian, then what must I do with feelings of isolation?

Satan wants nothing more than to cripple the saints. He knows that he will lose in the end, but he is determined to bring as many down with him as possible. He loves nothing more than to trap the Beloved with lies - not because he can snatch us from God, but because he does not want us to live victoriously as God has intended. When I feel isolated, it helps me to remember that I am most decidedly NOT alone, and to wallow in this pit is to call God a liar.

Say WHAT?

Oh, yes. God has promised that he will never leave us nor forsake us. He has promised that He holds us in His hands. He has promised us the Holy Spirit will dwell within us. If I say, "Woe is me, I am alone," God could just as easily say, "Child, I am right here! Stop denying me!"

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The true question is, do I believe Him? Do I believe His promise not to leave me alone? Only then can I finally get to the heart of the matter, and that is trusting God to do what He says He will do.

My friends, I am fighting this battle more often than I would like. Maybe you are, too. Hold on! Just hold on. We are never, never alone!

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Verse Three

More than anything, I hope that I am one who speaks the good word that makes glad the hearts of those around me. Someday, I hope it can be said of me, "And they glorified God because of me." (Gal. 1:24)

What about you? Feel free to enter your memory verse in the comments below!

On making the bed

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My grandparents, two of the Greatest Generation, have accumulated a museum's worth of antiques and collectibles in their lifetime. Their collections are impressive, and they own many beautiful, historical pieces. As a book-lover, I was always intrigued by all of their old books. I think they still have every text book they ever used in school.

Once, as I was perusing the old books, I came across my grandmother's home economics text book (possibly this one). What a fascinating piece of literature! Of all things, the detail that stuck in my brain from reading that book was about bed-making. Since it's been fifteen years (or more!) since I read it, I can't give a direct quote; however, in a nutshell it stated that bedding should be aired out for several hours before the bed is made each day. It specifically said that the homemaker should wait until the afternoon to make the beds! This was to allow the bedding to "breathe" and refresh, which is more healthful, according to the text!

I was taught from an early age to make my bed first thing in the morning, so this advice (out of a home ec text book, no less!) struck me as… strange! That's probably why I still remember it so vividly. My mom hated to see an unmade bed, so I made my bed to please her when I lived at home. Fast-forward to now, when making the bed feels like a monumental accomplishment (which does not occur on a daily basis, although I'm getting better lately). I like the bed to be made. It seems like it makes the room itself look less cluttered, and when it is bedtime, the bed seems so much more inviting when it is attractively made.

Any time that I do not get the bed made before bedtime, however, I comfort myself that I have let my bed "air out" that day, which means that my sleeping environment is more healthful. So, if you forget to make your bed, take heart. You're simply following the textbook homemaking guidelines!

Happy

Winter has a purpose...

Dreams...

Via

Verse Two

There was a time, in the not-so-distant past, when I was dealing with the aching pain of rejection. It was a dark, insecure place. Not only was I feeling rejected, but I also felt isolated, as if I were the only person on the face of the earth who had ever felt that pain. I truly doubted that anyone could understand how I felt. In the midst of my despair, the homework for a Bible study I was attending at the time directed me to read Isaiah chapter 53.

If there was ever a chapter of the Bible that so radically changed me, it was that chapter on that day. I was amazed, and filled with the love of God when I read that I was not alone ~ I was not the only one to experience rejection! Not only did Christ experience the gut-wrenching pain of rejection (and therefore understand how I felt), he was rejected by everyone on the earth. There is no comfort on earth  that compares to the realization that Christ so loved me that he died on the cross for me, despite enduring all the pain of (my!) rejection. My pain pales in comparison to his - and he loves and forgives anyway!

Words cannot possibly describe how much this chapter has meant to me; how I've returned to it time after time for a reminder and reassurance. This is the first time that I've selected a verse of this chapter to memorize, and I chose this verse because I never want to forget that he has not only felt my pain, but borne the pain of my sin, and yet he loves me still.

What about you? Feel free to enter your memory verse in the comments below!